Patent Law

An Inflatable Air Bladder for Under Your Golf Grips?. Necessary?

Posted on August 31, 2008
I was just starting to think that there were enough golf grip variations to make everyone happy. Apparently David Cera does not agree. He is the inventor listed on a recently issued golf grip related patent; namely USPN 7407444 titled ?Method for Cushioning the Grip of a Golf Club, and Apparatus for Practicing the Method...

A New Twist on an Old Training Technique

Posted on August 28, 2008
It seems like every golfer has fought the chicken wing in their golf swing at some point in their life; and there is no shortage of training aides directed at solving the problem. Interestingly, many golfers end up reverting back to the golf towel or head cover tucked in the armpit...

Do You Care if Your Tee is Perfectly Level?

Posted on August 28, 2008
I don?t. In fact I always heard that you should tilt the tee forward or backward to influence the backspin imparted on the ball. However, since I could not find any decent information on the subject, I suspect that it may be an old wives tale.Having a perfectly level tee is important enough to one inventor that he filed a patent application on his tee design...

Bet You Have Never Seen a Putter Like This!

Posted on August 26, 2008
Have you ever felt that you needed a free standing putter? Me neither, but fortunately the inventors associated with the patent application that published as US Pub. No. 20080171614 are not bound by such conventional thinking.The patent application describes the putter as:A free standing golf putter is provided and configured to contact a golf ball at a point above the center of the golf ball...

To access this complete feed in the blog feed reader login or register for free.

It Pays to Know the USGA Equipment Rules

Posted on August 26, 2008
Familiar with the USGA Rules on Clubs & Balls? Well, if you intend to invent and market a golf product then you should familiarize yourself with the Rules.One of the Rules is often simply referred to as the ?plain in shape? rule and reads as follows:4...

Good Swing Training Invention OR Merely a Wedgie Creator?

Posted on August 23, 2008
You make the call; worthwhile swing trainer or merely a wedgie creator?The invention was granted patent protection last month via USPN 7399232 titled ?Golf Club Swing Training Device and Method.? The patent describes the invention as:A device for training the muscles used during a golf club swinging motion...

It Pays to Know the USGA Equipment Rules

Posted on August 23, 2008
Familiar with the USGA Rules on Clubs & Balls? Well, if you intend to invent and market a golf product then you should familiarize yourself with the Rules.One of the Rules is often simply referred to as the ?plain in shape? rule and reads as follows:4...

Would You Play Better Golf If Your Spikes Could Rotate?

Posted on August 21, 2008
I don?t know the answer to that question, but a patent issued this week that makes me think that having spikes that independently rotate couldn?t hurt my game.This week Callaway was granted USPN 7412784 titled ?Shoe Traction System? that describes the invention as: A shoe traction system may have an attachment element to allow the orientation of a traction device, such as a golf spike or cleat, to change relative to a sole...

The IP Golf Guy Discusses ?Common Patent Myths? on the Small Business Advocate® Radio Program

Posted on August 19, 2008
I was honored to be a guest on the nationally syndicated Small Business Advocate® radio show this morning. Jim Blasingame and I debunk some common patent myths. I have been a fan of Jim?s show for close to 10 years and highly recommend it.Click below to listen to the interview...

Golfers and Their Cigars

Posted on August 19, 2008
While I am not a cigar smoker, I do have to admit that this invention looks like a pretty handy device and an easy sell. The invention was granted a design patent today; namely USPN D575449 titled ?Support for Cigars and the Like on a Golf Cart.? Check it out...

My Tour of the USGA Research and Test Center

Posted on August 19, 2008
Last week I was very fortunate to a get tour of the USGA Research and Test Center in Far Hills, NJ. The Senior Technical Director Dick Rugge led the tour and provided a great explanation of the role of the Center, as well as a breakdown of the testing and research performed at the Center...

My Tour of the USGA Research and Test Center

Posted on August 16, 2008
Last week I was very fortunate to a get tour of the USGA Research and Test Center in Far Hills, NJ. The Senior Technical Director Dick Rugge led the tour and provided a great explanation of the role of the Center, as well as a breakdown of the testing and research performed at the Center...

Wow, Now That Is A Great Idea! Not To Mention It Would Actually Speed Up The Pace of Play

Posted on August 15, 2008
Yesterday I was reviewing the latest patent applications that published related to golfing inventions and I actually found myself thinking ?great idea!? That does not happen very often.The patent application published as US Pub. No. 20080190795 with the title ?Golf Club Holder for Golf Carts...

Another Adjustable Club, This Time a Putter With Lie Adjustability ? But Don?t Think It Is a New Concept

Posted on August 15, 2008
An interesting adjustable putter patent issued this week, just check out this design.The invention comes from USPN 7410423 titled ?Golf Club Having An Adjustable Shaft Angle? and describes the invention as:A golf cub comprising a head, a shaft assembly and a shaft attachment assembly...

Would You Allow This Putter Into Your Bag?

Posted on August 13, 2008
Check out this putter design that recently issued as a utility patent. Would you be willing to give it a try?How is that for a little offset!The patent is USPN 7371185 titled ?Putterhead with Center Line Forward Offset Hosel? and describes the invention as:A golf putterhead having a neck or hosel connecting said putterhead to a shaft...

Perhaps a Hard Lesson Learned for Bubba Watson?. Steve & Barry?s® Files for Bankruptcy

Posted on August 10, 2008
Remember a post I did for the Cele-Branding blog back in November regarding Bubba Watson?s deal with Steve & Barry?s®? No worries, let me recap...... The following comes from the original post:Bubba has teamed up with 200+ store national chain Steve & Barry?s® to introduce a BubbaGolf? collection of high-quality, low-priced golf and casual apparel...

Putter Alignment Features Are Getting More and More Creative

Posted on August 04, 2008
It seems like the latest hot trend in putter designs is unique alignment features, but not necessary features that help you align the putter with the ball and the hole. Rather, the trend seems to be directed to features that provide feedback to the user regarding their stance and stroke...

What Are The Odds of Two Golf Cleat Patent Infringement Lawsuits on the Same Day? This Time Softspikes Takes on the Makers of Champ Spikes

Posted on July 31, 2008
Amazing, I just got done posting about Trisport, Ltd. suing Greenkeepers concerning USPN 6810608 titled ?Shoe Cleats.? Now, it turns out that Softspikes sued MacNeill Engineering (a.k.a. Champ Spikes) on the same day in the same court, also for golf cleat patent infringement! What are the odds?On Tuesday Softspikes sued the makers of Champ Spikes for infringement of USPN 6052923 titled ?Golf Cleat? and USPN 6167641 titled ?Athletic Shoe Cleat...

Golf Shoe Spike Patent Infringement ? This Time Greenkeepers is on the Receiving End

Posted on July 30, 2008
One year ago I wrote about a golf spike patent infringement lawsuit in which Greenkeepers sued Acushnet (FootJoy) and Softspikes for alleged patent infringement of USPN 6530162 titled ?Sports Shoe Cleats.? Click HERE to review the post. Interestingly, this was not the first lawsuit centered on the ?162 patent...

The First Bounty From The Golf-Patents.com Bounty Hunter Program; A Chance to Earn $750 for Your Knowledge of Golf Clubs

Posted on July 28, 2008
Since you are probably not familiar with the Golf-Patents.com Bounty Hunter Program please read this POST first (after all, it contains the rules of the Bounty Hunter Program). I am pleased to offer the first Bounty from the Golf-Patents.com Bounty Hunter Program and hope that it is claimed...

Get Paid for Your Knowledge of Golf Products; Introducing the Golf-Patents.com Bounty Hunter Program

Posted on July 28, 2008
Readers of the Golf-Patents blog know that there is a fair share of patent litigation in the golf industry. Further, the validity of the patent-in-suit is always brought into question, primarily by one of the parties producing prior art that was not considered by the US Patent and Trademark Office when it issued the patent...

Another Golf Hat Training Aid?. Would You Wear This Hat At The Course?

Posted on July 26, 2008
Check out the invention described in published patent application US Pub. No. 20080146363 titled ?No-Head-Turn Putting and Swing Teaching Aid.?   The application describes the invention as: [0011] As can be seen, above, there is a need in the art for readily and conveniently deployed devices that indicate to a golfer whether or not the golfer's head is moving during the golf swing...

Lamkin Grips is Now in the Crosshairs of Grip Master (another golf grip patent infringement case)

Posted on July 24, 2008
Back in December I reported (click here) on a patent and trademark infringement lawsuit brought by The Grip Master Co. Pty Ltd. of Australia against TheGripMasterUSA. The patent at the center of the dispute is USPN 6449803 titled ?Grip for a Handle or Shaft...

Possibly the New Srixon Driver and Irons?

Posted on July 22, 2008
Two interesting design patents issued today to SRI Sports that may give us a look at some new Srixon clubs.The first patent is USPN D573678 titled ?Head for Golf Club? and is directed to a driver design. How do you like this driver design?The second patent is USPN D573677, also titled ?Head for Golf Club,? is directed to an iron design...

The Wealthiest Golfers Recognize the Importance of Building and Protecting Their Brand ? Take a Look at The Shark?s Trademark Portfolio

Posted on July 21, 2008
Becoming a golf superstar comes with its fair share of responsibilities, including building and protecting your personal brand. The most financially successful golf celebrities know how to capitalize on their brands via trademark protection and licensing, and there is no doubt that Greg Norman is one of the best at it...

A 3rd Golf GPS Patent Infringement Lawsuit in 15 Months! This Time ABC National Television Sales is Also Thrown in the Mix

Posted on July 19, 2008
About one year ago I reported that GPS Industries and Optimal IP Holdings filed a patent infringement lawsuit against 10 defendants (3:07CV0831-K, Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division) that I characterized as reading like a Who?s Who of the golfing GPS world...

The Strike N Swipe Patent Application Publishes

Posted on July 16, 2008
Remember the Strike N Swipe reusable impact tape from The Golf Channel?s ?Fore Inventors Only? show? If not, check out the impressive Strike N Swipe website, complete with David Leadbetter endorsement. In my prior posts (here, and here) I affectionately referred to the product as the million dollar reusable impact tape because on the show the inventor explained that he had almost one million dollars invested in the product (which blew me away)...

Bridgestone Hosel Bling! What Are They Thinking

Posted on July 15, 2008
Have you ever thought to yourself?.. my ?hosel does not have any gorgeousness or sumptuousness?? Gorgeousness.?. Sumptuousness?.. What! (apparently some words don?t translate well, who knew) A few weeks ago a Bridgestone patent application published as US Pub...

How?s Your Golf Posture? This Invention May Help You Improve It

Posted on July 13, 2008
Yet another interesting golf training device patent application. Boy, they are a dime a dozen; and I, like most golfers, would try almost anything to improve my game. The invention disclosed in the application that published as US Pub. No. 20080146364 titled ?Device for Correcting Golf Swing Posture? is unlike most training aids in that it is directed to the lower body...

Five Odyssey Putters Come Under Fire in an IP Infringement Lawsuit

Posted on July 12, 2008
Ever heard of EZ Line Putters? Me neither, although I have to admit?. they look pretty nice. Plus, EZ Line Putter owns USPN 4962927 titled ?Putter Head.?So, which Odyssey putters have come under fire? Well, the Odyssey White Hot XG #7 putter, the Odyssey White Hot XG #7 Long putter, the Odyssey Black Series I #7 putter, and the Odyssey White Hot Sabertooth putter have been accused of infringing the ?927 patent...

Bloggers, promote your law blog by nominating your blog for inclusion in USLaw.com's Law Blog Directory and RSS Reader. Benefits described.